Gettysburg Oration (ePub)

Edward Everett (1794-1865) was a prominent American statesman, educator, and orator, remembered largely for his distinguished career in public service and his rhetorical mastery. Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Everett was a precocious student, graduating from Harvard College as the valedictorian of the class of 1811. Following his passion for classical literature and eloquence, he became an ordained minister, a professor of Greek literature at Harvard, and eventually served as its president from 1846 to 1849. His political career included serving as a U.S. Representative, Governor of Massachusetts, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State under President Millard Fillmore. A defining moment in Everett's oratorical legacy was his two-hour oration at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery on November 19, 1863, an event overshadowed by President Abraham Lincoln's famously succinct Gettysburg Address. Despite the contrast in length, Everett's 'Gettysburg Oration' is regarded as a significant piece of American rhetorical history, exhibiting his traditional neoclassical style and his emphasis on the preservation of the Union. The speech, which meticulously recounted the Battle of Gettysburg and honored the fallen, encapsulated his eloquence and deep commitment to the American nation. Though not as widely remembered as Lincoln's address, historians recognize Everett's contribution to the tapestry of American political and cultural life during a period of profound national turmoil.